Funny in Farsi: Post #2

Funny in Farsi

Quote #1: In my large extended family, each member has a reputation. This reputation, carved in a stone, is usually the result of a somewhat random act that for some unknown reason takes on a far greater meaning, and becomes the defining moment in a life. -Firoozeh -Page 42

Significance: The quote that I chose relates to the question, “How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America?” Everybody in Firoozeh’s family has a different reputation, so what Firoozeh is trying to tell us is that, her family carves their feelings in a stone to show their emotions. Firoozeh’s culture also stays the same in America because they don’t want to lose a part of their ethnicity and first background. I think that Firoozeh likes the idea of how you express yourself onto stones and it means a lot in your life and I think that, that’s pretty amazing and interesting. I’m proud of Firoozeh because she isn’t ashamed of being Iranian, she is proud and she shows it, by the way she reacts when people laugh at her or make rude comments about her. She is a strong girl and this quote proves it by being very open and proud.

Personal Connection: I can relate to this quote because, I’m not ashamed of being Eritrean. Everybody in my class knows who I am and where I’m from. People think that I wasn’t born here in San Diego, but I was. Just because people make fun of me doesn’t mean that I just change who I am. I am proud of who I am whether people don’t like me or not. People should judge you by the inside not the outside. If I just act like I don’t care then it won’t be a problem. This is something Firoozeh and I have in common. We have some differences and we have some in common as well.

Question: What does this quote mean to you?

Quote #2: People always asked us what we thought of the hostage situation. It’s awful, we would say”…Sometimes I’d just say,” Have you noticed how all of the recent serial killers have been Americans. I won’t hold it against you.”

-Firoozeh -Page 39-40

Significance: The quote that I chose relates to the question, “What challenges do the characters face upon their arrival?” Firoozeh and her family didn’t think that Americans would ask them about Iranians getting angry and taking prisoners. I don’t know why people would ask Firoozeh that everyday because that’s annoying. Firoozeh probably wanted American to see how irritating they can be when she asked them about serial killers. This is one of the challenges that Firoozeh and her family had to get used to because everyday they would hear the same thing. Firoozeh and her family probably find that offensive.

Character Judgement: Firoozeh’s mom is going to start saying she is from somewhere else because it’s bothers people when you constantly ask them the same question a lot. They aren’t going to like you because you act weird and offend them. Firoozeh doesn’t really care, but she will respond back in a tone that won’t be good. I feel that if I were Firoozeh I would probably get mad and say something mean back. To me this quote was important because it expresses how Firoozeh and her family feel when people ask them questions like they’re terrorists or something.

Question: How would you feel if someone was treating you badly or kept asking you the same question over and over again everyday?